Using open source for Microsoft files?

[jacobkane2002]

Just wondered if it's possible to use open source software to access MS files.

It's just that I'm thinking of ditching MS and going for the open source stuff but of course I have lots of files still saved in Word, Excel, and Publisher and I would still want to be able to access them.

Is it the case that the above is possible but that there are glitches with the open source software that would just cause me headaches?

I've heard that open source stuff can take longer to learn in which case would it simply be counterproductive to go through the process of learning it?

 

[jacobkane2002]

In my saved files of Excel, I should add that I don't have any complex formulas or graphs. It's just the data that I still want to be able to access.

 

[TonyGroves]

OpenOffice.org is perfect for handling Microsoft files - certainly Word and Excel files, but I don't know about Publisher files (you might have to convert them to an intermediate format like EMF first). It's just as reliable and easy to use as the MS equivalents, and more secure. The only incompatibility you might come across is with advanced formatting and macros.

I've been using OpenOffice.org for a few years, and have installed it for several clients, and am very satisfied with it.

 

[kpetursson]

Have you looked through the FAQ section of openoffice.org?

As far as I know there are few problems opening MS files.

Have you tried? I have both loaded on my machine. The latest version of openoffice.org has a very similar fell to MS office, and the learning curve shouldn't be too steep, as openoffice.org has as many and comparable features as MS office. Plus you can always post here

Kevin Petursson
--
"Everyone says quotable things everyday, but their not famous... so nobody cares."... Some Person

 

[Glenn9999]

Don't be surprised if you don't have to go through all your files and change them because the formatting (even basic formatting) gets messed up between OO and Microsoft.